Artificial taper



Nov. 13, 1934. F. J. BECKER ARTIFICIAL TAPER Filed Nov. 10. 1932INVENTOR. Mia Q c/- EEG/{w ATTORNEYJi Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITEDSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE- 3Claims.

My invention relates primarily to the production of illuminatingdevices, more particularly in the form of candle tapers and the like,the use of which for decorative as well as utilitarian pur- 5 posesappears to be increasing, and immediate commerical application of myinvention is in the provision of taper, preferably a decorative taperwhich will have both a permanent utility and a permanent decorativecharacter, and is not subject to the disadvantages of the ordinarytaper,

including the disadvantage of being consumed by w burning. While myinvention is not restricted v to the production of illuminating devicesin the form of tapers, yet I shall describe my invention in connectionwith an exemplary embodiment thereof, which is a taper. I

The general advantages of the construction 0 my invention includedurability since my artificial taper does not deteriorate with use, anddoes not become distorted or unsightly under the influence of heat;economy because my device is not expended by burning and because thecost of fuel for my device per unit of burning time is less than thecost per unit of burning time of decorative candles; beauty, since mydevice is capableof receiving a wider variety of artistic decoration,and of receiving this decoration in a more permanent form.

While devices designed to produce a flame from a combustible materialwhich is drawn up into a wick have been suggested in a wide variety offorms, yet it is a specific object of my invention to solve thosepeculiar problems which are connected with economy of structure, themaintenance of an adequate reserve of combustible material, the controlof the combustible material, the control of the flame, and the solutionof other problems which will be clear upon reading this specification.Reference is now made to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an exemplary form of my taperinserted within a simple form of holder.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the taper itself taken along the lines 2,2 in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the cap and body joint. I

The illustrated form of my invention shows a body 1 which may be made toconform to accepted styles of decorative candles, but will ordinarily besomewhat conical in form. I prefer to give the lower part of my device areduced end formation indicated in dotted lines at 3 in Fig. 1, also oftapered form so that it may fit into and be snugly engaged by any of theordinary candle holders,

-a wicking I prefer to employ a double braided (Cl. 6'I-36) candlesticks, or candelabra. A simple form of candle holder is indicated at 4to illustrate the manner of used my device; but it forms no part of myinvention. The taper body may be provided with any suitable color schemein any suitable form of decoration 5, and it also may be provided with adecoration such as that at 6, simulating the dripping of wax from aburning wax taper. A wick is provided as at 7 and completes the externalappearance of my device.

I prefer to form the body of my device of metal, and while otherstructures may be adopted I prefer to form the body 1 by rolling sheetmetal, such as brass, to a tapered cylindrical form and brazing theedges thereof together. While my device may be constructed, if desired,with a fill ing opening at the bottom, I prefer to make the bottom fullyclosed and leak-proof.- Of necessity the fuels used in' a device of thischaracter are relatively highly volatile, extremly fluid, and appear tohave a highly penetrating character, for which reason unless bottomfilling openings are very carefully constructed and maintained they havea tendency to leak. In a preferred form of my invention, therefore, thebottom member is in the form of a drawn structure from sheet metal,having a bottom member 8, a tapered cylindrical bottom portion 9, and anannular flange 10 about the upper end thereof, which flange is of a sizeto fit snugly within the lower edge of the body member 1. The bodymember and the bottom member are assembled in the relationship shown inFig. 2, and are brazed or soldered together, giving a fluid-tightconstruction. The top of my device is closed by a cap-shaped memberindicated broadly in Fig. 1 by the numeral 11. This is perforated forthe passage of the wick 7, which has a main portion 7a extending downinto the body member 1.. I prefer to fill the body member substantially5 full of a packing material 12, which may be cotton, or the like, andwhich is packed about the extension of the wick member 7a, there beingstructure in which both sets of braiding com- Prise a mixture of cottonand silk threads.

It is highly important to control both the fuel and the composition in adevice of this character. 10

substantially no loss thereof by evaporation when my taper is notlighted. If, after long burning the flame becomes lower than is desired,it is possible temporarily to up-end my structure so as to cause excessfuel to saturate dried out portions of the wicking and/or packing, andthus to bring the flame back to its normal height for a considerablelength of time without the addition of further fuel.

While the removal of fuel from the body of my device in the operation ofburning tends to reduce the atmospheric pressure therein, yet I havefound that, providing means are taken to assure an air pocket in thedevice, the reduction of pressure. which occurs in this way will notprevent the proper feeding of fuel. I have not foundit necessarytherefore to provide means for the admission of external air to the bodyof my device. So long as the fuel level does not fall below the minimumfor proper capillaryfeeding, the flame will be sufliciently fed. It is agreater problem to prevent the feeding of too much fuel to the flame, asmight occur if the fuel reservoir or associated parts were subjected tosuch a heat as would produce undue volatilize.- tion of the fuel withinthe container. Hitherto illuminating or flame producing devices have hadrelatively heavy metalparts adjacent to or surrounding the wicking.Frequently the wicking is held in a relatively heavy metal tube. Thesemetal parts become heated and transmit their heat to the fuel andvolatilize it very rapidly. Where the flame is to be employed for anextremely short interval this is not important. My device, however, isdesigned for continuous use.

. I have burned my tapers, where the body portion is not too thin,continuously for over eight hours without sensible diminution of theflame size; and with slight diminution of the flame size they will burnfor very much longer periods. Burning requirements of this character areof importance where the devices are to be used as table decorations, orfor illuminating purposes in the dining rooms of hotels and the like,where continuous burning of as much as five to six hours is frequentlydesired.

If there are any metal parts of relatively heavy character associatedwith or located near the flame of a device of this character there willbe produced excessive evaporation of the fuel, which tends to bring theflame size beyond control. Moreover, the evaporation of fuel increasesthe pressure within the container, forcing out the fluid fuel throughthe wick or through such other openings as may exist. An excess of fuelfed in.

this way may run down thesides of the device and produce a verydangerous condition, particly since such fuel will usually be ignited bythe flame.

I avoid these disadvantages and danger by providing a construction whichat the same time provides an air pocket in my device and keeps all heavymetal parts away from the flame so that the body portions of my deviceare never sem n quite thin and which are merely perforated as at 14 forthe passage of the wicking. The cap has a tubular extension 15 ofreduced diameter, which is externally threaded as shown so that it maybe screwed into the threaded ring 13. The juncture of this reducedextension and the dome walls of my device produces an interior shoulder16, which is not a limitation upon my invention, but

indicates that every precaution has been taken to v keep the walls ofthe cap 11 as thin as possible. I prefer to entirely avoid the use oftubes in the wick, and there are adjacent the flame only the relativelyvery thin walls of the cap 11. These walls in the ordinary use of mydevice are so little heated that they never become uncomfortable to thefingers. Consequently excessive evaporation of the fuel is prevented.Moreover, the interior portion of the cap 11 provides the air pocketaforesaid so that even if the body member 1 should be filled level fullof the liquid fuel there still will be provided above it a pocket of airwhen the cap has been screwed in place. A suitable washer or backingdevice may, of course, be placed between the cap and the body member toprevent leakage. Even if such leakage should occur, however, it willoccur at a. point separated from the flame by the length of the cap 11.The joint between the cap and the body member will ordinarily beunnoticeable.

The perforation 14 in the dome will be of such a size as to hold thewicking snugly. Since the. wicking is engaged only by the edges ofrelatively thin walls there are in my structure no such extent ofsurface as to cause excessive capillary action, and when-my device isnot ignited there is no excess flowing of fuel to the wick. Hence mycandles may be stored unllghted for great periods of time without asensible diminution of the fuel supply, even though the wick is exposedto moving air.

Where the cap 11 is removably connected to thebodylagasketisusedtomakeanairandvapor tight joint. If this gasket, whichusually is of material which will not take the lacquer or otherfinishing material in the same way as the metal of the cap and body, isexposed at the outer flnished surface, it appears as a distinct ring,which detracts from the appearance of the device as a the joint ishardly visible when the finished cap and body are screwed together. Thisleaves a ftriangular space between this contact of the cap the body 1.It is preferable to have the wick lead fairly directly to the capopening 14 from the packing 12, for effective capillary action, and thecap should not be pulled out far from the body when removed for renewingthe fuel supply. A disk 7b through which a lower part of the wickextends, with a knot therebelow, affords added anchorage of the wick atthe bottom of the body of packing 12. This disk, by its engagement inthe packing, also aids in removing the packing 12 if necessary, as forinstance if a fuel may have been used which leaves a deposit in thepacking. My preferred fuel, is one that will not leave any appreciabledeposit; but users may substitute fuels which do leave a deposit,clogging the packing and wick so as to partly or practically entirelyrender the device inoperative, requiring renewal of the packing andwick.

It is desirable to employ a fuel evaporating without leaving a residue,as above noted, and also which does not attack the decorative coveringof the device if spilled thereon. I have used with entire success ahighly and completely volatile material derived from the distillation ofpet-roleum. I prefer to mix with the fuel some oil soluble in the fuel,such as an essential oil or perfume. If a perfume is used it may be oneproducing no odor as a result of burning but nevertheless gives the fuela pleasant odor upon mere evaporation. The oil tends to lubricate thewick, promoting greater capillary action in the wick. If desired,materials may be mixed with the fuel which will develop a pleasant odorupon burning.

The various portions of the device may be finished in any way desired.They may be such as to give the device partly or wholly the usual metalfinishes, or the device maybe coated with paint, lacquer, bronze orenamel in whatever designs are found attractive. A representation ofdrips as at 6 in Fig. 1 may be made by employing a heavy bodied coatingsubstance, and additional decoration or decorative elements may beapplied, as is frequent in the manufacture of decorative wax tapers.With the close contact of the cap and body afforded by a connection suchas has been described, and by applying the finish and decorativeelements, such as the drip representations 6, to these parts while thusclosely connected, a practically complete simulation of a wax candle ortaper is had. My device has been found entirely satisfactory as asubstitute for wax candles as decorations for tables in homes orrestaurants, or in other locations.

What I claim is:

1. In a long-burning illuminating device using a highly volatile fuel,comprising a fuel enclosure and a wick therein, said enclosure and itstop having a tightly fitted connection whereby they are separable forplacing fuel in the container, the rims of said top and said enclosurehaving portions in direct contact at their outer surfaces to preservethe appearance of continuity of said surface, and having their mutuallyfitting attachment parts spaced in from said direct contact portions,leaving a space therebetween, and gasket means compressed in said space.

2. In a long-burning illuminating device using a highly volatile fuel,comprising a fuel enclosure and a wick therein, said enclosure havingits top imperforate except for an opening in which the wick is grippedand from which the wick extends and said top having walls of singlethickness less than the thickness of the wick, including the edge of thewick opening, said top being in the form of a dome extending up withevery vertical cross section in the form of an outwardly bowed curve, sothat it presents only its thin edge to the wick and thereby and by itsthinness provides a minimum of conductivity for heat between the wickopening and the fuel, to minimize fuel evaporation in the enclosure, andso that a free flow of the air is allowed to the wick above the opening.

3. In a long-burning illuminating device using a highly volatile fuel,comprising a fuel enclosure and a wick therein, said enclosure havingits top imperforate except for an opening in which the wick is grippedand from which the wick extends and said top having walls of singlethickness less than the thickness of the wick for the major portion ofthe upward extent of said top, said top being in the form of a domeextending up with every vertical cross section in the form of anoutwardly bowed curve, so that it has a large interior space relative toits thickness, and by its thinness provides a minimum of conductivityfor heat between the wick opening and the fuel, to minimize fuelevaporation in the enclosure, and so that a free flow of the air isallowed to the wick above the opening.

FREDERICK J. BECKER.

